Robert w



(No Mmiel.)

R. W. LOGAN.

RAIL FOR DASH BOARDS.

Patented Apr. 6, 1886.

IN VEN T OR.

WITNESSES.

N. PETERS. PIMWWOEW Walhiuiim DJ;

lJNiTED STATES PATENT ROBERT XV. LOGAN, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA,ASSIGNOR TO FERNANDIZE M. SHIMONDS AND GEORGE K. SOHOFIELD, BOTH OF SAMEPLACE.

RAIL. FOR DASH-BOARDS.

I SFEGIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 339,307, dated April6, 1886.

Application filed September ll, 1885. Serial No. 176,774. (No model.-

.T all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, ROBERT W. LOGAN, of the city of Indianapolis, countyof Marion, and State of Indiana, have invent-ed certain new and usefulImprovements in Detachable Hand- R-ails for Dash-Boards, of which thefollowing is a specification.

Heretofore in the manufacture of vehicles rails for the dash-boards havebeen used only .0 on the better class of work, on account of the expenseconsequent upon their attachnientby the ordinary method, which hasusually been to weld said rail at several points to the frame of thedash, thus making it necessary to stitch the cover onto said frame byhand, which is both slow and expensive.

The object of my said invention is therefore.

to provide a rail which can be quickly and easily attached to anydash-board after it is otherwise complete, and also easily detached whenit is desired to do so, (as when it needs replating,) thus making a moredesirable rail, and one which can be used on the cheaper grades ofvehicles, giving them the well-known 2 5 advantage of the rail with buta slight addition in cost, as will be hereinafter more par ticularly setforth.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof,and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure1 is a front elevation of a dasln board provided with my improved rail;Fig. 2, ahorizontal section through the same on the dotted line 2 2,thecentral portion being broken 3 5 out and the ends being shown on anenlarged scale; Fig. 3, a view similar to the top portion of Fig. 1, therail being formed longitudinally adjustable; i, asimilar View showingthe top part of the rail dispensed with; and Fig. 0 5, a detail viewlooking to the left from the dotted line 5 5 in Fig. 1.

In said drawings, the portions marked A represent the dash-board, and Bthe rail. The dashboard A is or may be of any ordinary or 5 desiredconstruction, and needs no special de scription. The rail B is mountedon the top edge of the dash-board, extending along the edge and down ashort distance on each end to form handles, as is usual. It is supportedand secured in position by the supports Bon the top and B on the ends.Said supports B are sufficient in number to properly support the railfrom the top of the dash, two, as shown, usually being sufficient. .Theyare preferably formed integrally with said rail, extending 5 5 downtherefrom far enough to support said rail the desired height from theedge of said dashboard. Iwo lips, I)", are formed on theirlower ends,which extend down on each side of the top edge of the dash to a pointjust below the center of the bulge therein, (see especially Fig. 5,) andthus after the rail has been put in position a slight blow on thesepoints operates to bend them in under said bulge and aid in seouringtherail in position. Said supports B are clamped to the ends of thedash-board at one end, and have the lower ends of the rail secured totheir outer ends. The clamp part preferably consists of two jaws, b,which extend back on each side of the'end piece of the dash-board frameto the rear thereof, and are provided with bolt-holes in their ends forthe bolts b which pass through said holes and the dash board, and,bymeans of the nuts I), tightly clamp said jaws to said end piece andsecure said support imposition. At the right in Figs. 1, 2, and 4 I showa hinge, b formed in one jaw of the clamp, which renders it moreflexible and easier to clamp; but, as will be readily understood, thejaws can be readily sprung together when formed as shown at the leftinsaid figures, especially when formed from malleable iron or somesimilar material. I do not therefore desire to limit myself to anyspecific form of clamp. In their outer ends the supports are preferablyprovided with vertical holes, through which the lower ends of the railare inserted, they being secured therein by nuts b on their lower ends,as shown. As will be readily seen, these supports might be formed inpiece with said rail or secured thereto in any other manner withoutdeparting from my invention; but I regard the construction shown aspreferable, as by means of the nuts I) the rail can be drawn down verytightly upon the top edge of the dash, and thus be made very secure andrigid in position.

In Fig. 3 I show the rail formed in two parts adapted toscrewtogetherinthecentral portion, thus rendering it adjustable todash-boards of various lengths. In making new vehicles, this of coursewould not be necessary, as the rail would then be made of the properlength at first; but by this construction they can be easily and quicklyapplied to any vehicle without any fitting or extra expense.

In Fig. 4 I show the top part of the rail dispensed with,and only theends attached by my improved means to form handles. By this constructiona rail is provided not only much cheaper to put on, but one that is alsoeasily detached, when desired, as, when the plating becomes worn off, itcan be at once removed, replated, and readjusted in position withoutinjuring the dash in any manner, thus making a very desirable as well ascheap rail.

I am aware that supplemental dash-boards have been secured to thedash-board proper by being clamped to the top edge thereof, and saiddash-board thus rendered more effective; but I do not regard this as asubstitute for myin- Vention, which is equally applicable to anddesirable on said supplemental dash-board when used as on the dash-boardproper. As will be readily seen, if at any time it is desired to usesuch supplemental dashboard on a dashboard provided with my rail, saidrail can be readily removed, placed upon said supplemental dash-board,and the whole put in p0 Siti'on.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure 35 by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with a dash-board consisting of the ordinarymetallic frame and leather covering, of a detachable rail provided withsupports having clamps, whereby it is secured to the finished edges ofsaid dash-board 0 and held free therefrom, substantially as shown anddescribed.

2. The combination, with the dash-board A, of the rail B, provided withthe supports B, said supports B, engaging with the top edge of said 4 5dash-board,and the supports B, engaging with the ends of said dash-boardat oneend and being secured to the ends of said rail at the other,substantially as set forth. l

3. The combination of the dash-board A, rail B, supports B, and supportsB, said supports B having clamps formed on one end thereof, one jaw ofwhich is provided with a hinge, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with a dash-board, of a v detachable railconstructed of two parts which are adjustable upon each other andprovided with clamps, whereby it can be secured to or removed from thefinished dash-board, sub stantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, atIndianapolis, Indiana, this 7th day of September, A. D. 1885.

ROBERT W. LOGAN. [L s.]

In presence of- E. W. BRADFORD, CHARLES L. THURBER.

